ISLAMABAD: A former senior CIA officer has made a sensational claim that could reshape one of the 20th century’s most enduring mysteries, alleging that 10000 classified documents on President John F Kennedy’s 1963 assassination remain permanently sealed because every page points to Israel.
John Kiriakou, a decorated 14-year CIA veteran and whistleblower who exposed the agency’s torture programme, dropped the bombshell during a March 2026 podcast interview with former mobster Michael Franzese. He said a close Trump confidant directly informed him of the existence of the withheld files.
According to Kiriakou, the source stated Trump would never release the 10000 documents because “every single one of them points directly at Israel”. The reason cited was Kennedy’s aggressive efforts in 1963 to block Israel’s nuclear weapons programme at the Dimona reactor in the Negev Desert.
Declassified historical records show Kennedy’s intense personal involvement. In April 1963 he demanded biannual American inspections of Dimona. By June 15 he sent Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion a near-ultimatum letter warning that US commitment to Israel’s security “could be seriously jeopardized” without full access and reliable information on the site.
Ben-Gurion resigned the next day, though Israeli officials later cited multiple reasons. Kennedy continued the pressure on successor Levi Eshkol, insisting visits must include technical experts and unhindered examination. Between 1961 and 1969 the United States conducted eight Dimona inspections, seven after Kennedy’s demands.
The National Archives’ JFK Assassination Records Collection originally held over 320000 documents. Prior to 2025 more than 99 percent had been released. In March 2025 President Trump ordered the final batch, resulting in over 80000 pages made public across multiple tranches starting March 18, including 31419 pages on the first day and 37127 the same evening.
Yet Kiriakou insists a specific tranche of 10000 files was deliberately kept back. He described the confidant’s words as definitive, linking the secrecy directly to Kennedy’s nuclear standoff with Israel rather than standard national security concerns.
No released documents have ever provided evidence of Israeli involvement in the assassination. Official US investigations, including the Warren Commission, concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. However, the persistent withholding of any material has fuelled conspiracy theories for six decades.
Kiriakou, who served 23 months in prison for leaking classified information, emphasised he was relaying second-hand information from a Trump insider. The claim has spread rapidly on social media and been reported by international outlets including the International Business Times.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions in US-Israel relations during the Kennedy era. Washington viewed Israel’s nuclear ambitions as a proliferation risk in the volatile Middle East, while Tel Aviv saw the Dimona project as essential for survival after the Holocaust.
Historians note Kennedy’s non-proliferation policy was consistent across allies. He pushed similar inspections on other nations. His letters to Israeli leaders remain among the strongest examples of direct presidential intervention on the issue.
As the 2025 releases continue to be analysed by researchers worldwide, Kiriakou’s allegation adds fresh fuel to debates about what, if anything, remains hidden in America’s most scrutinised cold-case files.